Regular ferry user and Auckland Councillor Chris Darby sees the ferries making a big comeback in Auckland.
More than 6 million passengers have travelled on Auckland's ferries in the past year, a milestone last reached in 1959.
After 1959, ferry use dropped off due to the opening of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, which changed the way people travel between the North Shore and the city's isthmus.
Ferry patronage has grown by about 7 per cent in the past year.
Improvements on the cards
A complete review of ferry facilities is being conducted over the next six months to ensure Auckland Transport can continue to invest in facility improvements and cater for the growing demand.
A new ferry terminal at Half Moon Bay will be completed early in 2017. This facility will provide better weather protection, better links with buses and will separate ferry passengers from other users of the marina.
Auckland Transport is working through re-tendering the ferry contracts, which will result in improved vessels and better on-board facilities.
Ferries ‘making a comeback’
Regular ferry user and Auckland Councillor Chris Darby sees the ferries making a big comeback in Auckland.
Before the Auckland Harbour Bridge was constructed the city's ferries often exceeded 10 million passengers a year.
"We're coming back to that now, due to the phenomenal demand. It's an integral service in the overall public transport network, they all work together, as do walking and cycling," says Mr Darby.